Infant Transport Lawsuit
Seattle Parents Sue Salem Hospital Over Instructions To Transport Infant Remains
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Key Points
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The lawsuit says Michael died at 2:44 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2024, after developing rapid or shallow breathing during the family’s first trip away from Seattle, a visit to a Christian retreat in Salem. Emergency-department staff reportedly attempted lifesaving measures before his death.
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According to the complaint, hospital staff initially told the parents to stay away from Michael’s body while they awaited a medical examiner, then later said the examiner would not be coming. The parents allege the hospital did not offer morgue storage while they considered transportation arrangements.
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The parents allegedly sought transportation by a funeral home that would comply with their religious beliefs and practices, but say staff dismissed that option as too expensive. The complaint also alleges they were not given the official paperwork needed for interstate transport.
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The lawsuit says Michael’s mother had to carry his body out through the same emergency-department lobby doors through which she had entered earlier that night. Family attorney Thomas D’Amore characterized the alleged handling as: “Instead of compassion and standard procedure, they were handed a prescription slip and told to put their dead child in the car.”
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The complaint says Michael had spent the first six months of his life hospitalized because of Down syndrome and other significant health conditions, adding context to the family’s account of his prolonged medical needs before the fatal emergency.
A Seattle couple is suing Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics for $10 million after hospital staff allegedly told them to drive their nearly 9-month-old son's body home in their car following his death in September 2024. Fox 13 Seattle reports the parents say they were instructed to place the child in his car seat or lay him under a blanket for the four-hour drive to Washington, with only a handwritten death note and no official paperwork.
The lawsuit alleges staff dismissed the parents' requests for funeral-home transportation as too expensive and denied access to morgue storage while they made arrangements. KPTV reports the family later had to clean bodily fluids from their vehicle, saying they drove in shock, fearing a traffic stop or accident during the journey home.
How the Child Died During a Family Retreat
Michael Yeremeyev died at 2:44 a.m. on September 22, 2024, after developing rapid or shallow breathing at Salem Hospital. Statesman Journal reports the family was visiting a Christian retreat in Salem when the emergency began—their first trip away from Seattle since Michael's birth. Emergency-department staff attempted lifesaving measures before he died.
Michael had spent his first six months of life hospitalized due to Down syndrome and other serious health conditions. His parents had been managing complex medical needs for months before the fatal emergency at the hospital.
Hospital Allegedly Refused Proper Transportation Options
According to the lawsuit, hospital staff initially told the parents to stay away from Michael's body while awaiting a medical examiner, then later said the examiner would not come. Fox 13 Seattle reports the hospital did not offer morgue storage—a standard option—while the family considered transportation arrangements.
The parents sought a funeral home that would respect their religious beliefs, but staff dismissed the option as too expensive. The complaint alleges they never received official paperwork required for interstate transport of human remains.
The Family's Journey Home With Their Son
Michael's mother carried his body through the same emergency-department lobby doors where she had entered hours earlier. Family attorney Thomas D'Amore told Fox 13 Seattle: "Instead of compassion and standard procedure, they were handed a prescription slip and told to put their dead child in the car."
The parents drove four hours to Seattle while in shock, fearing a police stop or crash. Upon arrival, they discovered they would need to clean bodily fluids from the vehicle themselves—an ordeal they say compounded their grief and trauma.
What the Lawsuit Alleges Against the Hospital
The complaint names Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics and an emergency physician as defendants. The lawsuit alleges the hospital failed to provide dignified handling of the remains, adequate time for the family to consider alternatives, and access to standard morgue storage services.
The $10 million suit seeks damages for the family's emotional distress, improper treatment of their infant son, and the trauma of transporting remains across state lines without proper guidance or documentation. KPTV notes the allegations have not yet been adjudicated in court.
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